Queensland Auditor Handbook for
Contaminated Land
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
Prepared by: Business Initiatives, Regulatory Capability and Customer Service, Department of Environment and Heritage
Protection
© State of Queensland, 2015.
The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this
publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence.
Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence
terms.
You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication.
For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en
If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS
National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470.
This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision
impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <library@ehp.qld.gov.au>.
September 2015
Page 2 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
1. Purpose
This module supports the Application form—Application for approval as an auditor for contaminated land (EM815)
by outlining the information required to accompany an application.
Applications should be a maximum of 50 pages (excluding work examples) and must be the applicant’s own work1.
Application question
Question 8
Can you provide evidence that you hold qualification(s) relevant to performing auditor’s
functions for contaminated land?
(Applicants seeking mutual recognition under the Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act
1992 are not required to answer this question)
Related application
decision criteria under
s.572 of the EP Act
Qualifications and experience relevant to performing the functions of an auditor.
Supporting information
required
Certified copies of all relevant tertiary qualifications
As a minimum, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution
in a science or engineering discipline which is relevant to contaminated land.
The applicant should also provide details of any other relevant qualifications,
registrations and certifications held (these details can be included within the applicant’s
curriculum vitae)
Application question
Question 9
Can you provide evidence that you have the experience relevant to performing
auditor’s functions for contaminated land?
(Applicants seeking mutual recognition under the Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act
1992 are not required to answer this question)
Related application
decision criteria under
s.572 of the EP Act
Qualifications and experience relevant to performing the functions of an auditor.
Supporting information
required
Applicant’s curriculum vitae
The applicant’s curriculum vitae must provide evidence of all the following:

at least eight years’ experience, out of the past 11 years, in professional roles
relating to contaminated land assessment including remediation and
management
For example: preparing site investigation reports, validation reports or draft site
management plans and/or providing expert support to an approved auditor
carrying out an auditor’s functions for contaminated land.

at least two years of this experience within Australia
Please note: project start and finish dates must be clearly outlined.
Statement 1
1
Plagiarism will be considered by the administering authority to be an application that contains false and misleading information.
A decision to approve an auditor application may be repealed should it be found that plagiarism has occurred. It is also an
offence to provide a document to the administering authority which is false or misleading in a material particular.
Page 3 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
A statement which demonstrates the applicant’s sound ability and experience in
forming and managing a multidisciplinary team for complex contaminated land
assessment including remediation and management.
The statement should include information about the project(s) that the applicant has
managed in the past, including the team size(s) and how the applicant ensured an
appropriate balance of expertise within the project(s).
The statement should not exceed 1000 words.
Statement 2
A statement which demonstrates:

A sound understanding, and consistent application, of the National
Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999.

A broad range of experience with respect to the scale and scope of work
undertaken.
Applicants should have experience assessing and managing large projects
involving complex contamination issues and sampling design.

A broad range of experience with respect to the contaminants encountered.
Applicants should have experience dealing with the following commonly
encountered hazardous contaminants:
o
petroleum hydrocarbons
o
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
o
mono-aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. BTEX)
o
heavy metals and metalloids
o
non-metallic inorganics e.g. cyanide, sulfate, nutrients, acids, alkalis,
salinity
o
ground gases - e.g. landfill gas, explosive gas mixtures
o
light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs)
o
solvents e.g. chlorinated solvents
o
dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs)
o
volatile organic compounds
o
semi-volatile organic compounds
o
organochlorides, pesticides, organophosphate pesticides, and/or
herbicides
o
asbestos
It is desirable that the applicant also have experience dealing with some less
common hazardous contaminants such as:
o
persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
o
chemicals with persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT)
characteristics
o
chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention (e.g. PCB,
hexachlorobenzene, mirex, dioxins, DDT)
o
per-fluorinated compounds (e.g. PFOS, PFOA, 6:2 FtS)
o
acid sulfate soils or pyritic minerals
Applicants should also detail the experience they have in dealing with any
other contaminants, for example for radioactive substances or pathogenic
materials and waste.
This experience may include collaboration with other experts for these
Page 4 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
contaminants.

A broad range of experience with respect to the affected media encountered.
Applicants should have experience dealing with contaminated soil, soil gas,
surface water and ground water.
Applicants should also detail any experience they have dealing with other
contaminated media such as air, sediment or biota.


At least five years’ experience, in the past 11 years, applying a high level of
expertise for all of the following core competencies:
o
assessment of contaminant exposure pathways
o
communicating information about contamination and associated risks
to technical and non-technical audiences (for example to advise the
public, landowners or developers, SQPs and regulators)
o
contaminant fate and transport
o
contaminated site assessment, remediation and management
o
evaluation and interpretation of chemical and analytical data
o
groundwater sampling design and methodology
o
human health and environmental risk identification and assessment
relating to contamination
o
quality control/assurance procedures
o
soil gas sampling design and methodology
o
soil sampling design and methodology
At least a basic proficiency and experience in the past 11 years applying
expertise for all of the following desirable competencies:
o
air quality (volatile emissions and dust) assessment relating to
contamination
o
assessment of impacts on groundwater from contaminated sites
o
environmental chemistry
o
environmental sampling
o
environmental toxicology
o
geology
o
human toxicology
o
hydrogeology
o
remedial technologies and geo-technology for contaminated land
o
soil science
OR
A demonstrated ability to access adequate support expertise for any desirable
competency outside of the applicant’s expertise and experience.
If expertise for a desirable competency has not been accessed by the applicant
in the past, the statement must outline the method the applicant would employ
to access adequate support expertise for the specific competency.
The statement must not exceed 4000 words.
Work examples (as a minimum)
At least five different project reports, predominantly prepared by the applicant that:

support Statement 2
Page 5 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements

demonstrate the applicant’s written communication skills
All work examples must be prefaced with a synopsis using the template provided in
Appendix A of this module.
Additional reports and studies in which the applicant has made a major contribution
may also be submitted; these must also be prefaced with a synopsis using the same
template.
Consent from the person or organisation who commissioned the report must be
obtained prior to submission. All work examples are considered part of the application
and may be disclosed publicly in accordance with the Right to Information Act 2009
and the Evidence Act 1977.
Application question
Question 10
Do you have two suitable referees?
(Applicants seeking mutual recognition under the Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act
1992 are not required to answer this question)
Related application
decision criteria under
s.572 of the EP Act
Supporting information
required

Qualifications and experience relevant to performing the functions of the
auditor

Demonstrated knowledge of the EP Act and other Acts the chief executive
considers relevant to performing the functions of an auditor
Two written referee statements (as a minimum)
Referees must:

be directly associated with the applicant or the company employing the
applicant

have direct and recent knowledge of the applicant’s work
Each referee statement must specify:

the core and desirable competencies demonstrated by the applicant that they
can confirm (all competencies which the applicant has stated they have
demonstrated must be confirmed by at least one referee)

that the referee can confirm that the applicant has a sound understanding of
the Queensland legislation including subordinate legislation and guidelines
relevant to being able to perform auditor functions for contaminated land

that the referee reasonably and honestly holds the opinion that the applicant is
a person who is competent and capable of certifying contaminated land
investigation documents under chapter 7, part 8 of the EP Act and carrying out
compliance assessment of development on land listed on the EMR or CLR
under the SP Act
Referees may also be contacted by the administering authority to confirm or further
discuss the matters in the referee’s statement.
Curriculum vitae for each referee
The curriculum vitae must demonstrate that the referee holds, as a minimum, similar
qualifications and experience to the applicant.
Referees who are approved auditors for contaminated land within Queensland are not
required to provide a curriculum vitae.
Application question
Question 11
Can you demonstrate knowledge of the Queensland legislation including subordinate
legislation and guidelines relevant to being able to perform auditor functions for
contaminated land?
Page 6 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
Related application
decision criteria under
s.572 of the EP Act
Demonstrated knowledge of the EP Act and other Acts the chief executive considers
relevant to performing the functions of an auditor.
Supporting information
required
Statement 3
A statement which demonstrates a sound knowledge of the following including how the
applicant would apply this knowledge in performing an auditor’s function for
contaminated land:

The object of the EP Act

Environmental values (s.9 of the EP Act)

Environmental harm (including serious and material environmental harm) (s.14,
16 and 17 of the EP Act)

Best practice environmental management (s.21 of the EP Act)

General environmental duty (s.319 of the EP Act)

Environmental Protection Policies for Water, Air and Noise

The role and function of the Environmental Management Register (EMR) and
the Contaminated Land Register (CLR)

The duties of a landowner, occupier, auditor, local government authority or
other person to notify EHP about specific matters in relation to contaminated
land (s.320 of the EP Act)

The role and requirements of a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP)

The purpose and content requirements of a site investigation report

The purpose and content requirements of a site management plan and the
decisions the administering authority may make in relation to a draft site
management plan

The purpose and content requirements of a validation report

The purpose and content requirements of an auditor’s certification under s.389
of the EP Act and Module 5 of this handbook

The type of development on land listed on the EMR or CLR which requires a
compliance permit

The obligations of an auditor when carrying out compliance assessment under
Part 10 of the SP Act

The circumstances in which a compliance permit can be issued by an auditor
The statement must not exceed 3000 words.
Statement 4
In accordance with Modules 1, 4 and 5 of this handbook, a statement which
demonstrates a sound knowledge of:

the role and responsibilities of an auditor in contaminated land assessment,
including remediation and management and the appropriate methods for
carrying out an auditor’s function

auditing principles and appropriate standards of professional conduct
The statement must not exceed 1500 words.
Other application
requirements
Interview
Persons applying for approval as an auditor under the EP Act are also required to
attend an interview to demonstrate how they would successfully carry out auditor
functions and apply auditing principles.
Page 7 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
Page 8 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
Appendix A—Project synopsis template (required for each work example)
Project start and finish
dates
Project description
Report title, date and
version
Role of applicant in the
project
Role of applicant in
preparing the report
Contaminant(s) and
affected media dealt with
during the project
Core competencies
demonstrated
assessment of contaminant exposure pathways
communicating information about contamination and
associated risks to technical and non-technical audiences
Report section/page number:
Report section/page number:
(for example to advise the public, land owners or developers,
SQPs and regulators)
contaminant fate and transport
Report section/page number:
contaminated site assessment, remediation and
management
Report section/page number:
evaluation and interpretation of chemical and analytical
data
Report section/page number:
Report section/page number:
Page 9 of 10• 140626 • EM1301 •Version 1
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Module 2: Auditor application requirements
groundwater sampling design and methodology
human health and environmental risk identification and
assessment relating to contamination
Desirable competencies
demonstrated
Report section/page number:
Report section/page number:
quality control/assurance procedures
Report section/page number:
soil gas sampling design and methodology
Report section/page number:
soil sampling design and methodology
Report section/page number:
air quality (volatile emissions and dust) assessment
relating to contamination
Report section/page number:
assessment of impacts on groundwater from
contaminated sites
Report section/page number:
environmental chemistry
Report section/page number:
environmental sampling
Report section/page number:
environmental toxicology
Report section/page number:
geology
Report section/page number:
human toxicology
Report section/page number:
hydrogeology
Report section/page number:
remedial technologies and geo-technology for
contaminated land
soil science
Page 10 of 10 • 150924 • EM1341 • Version 1
Report section/page number:
Report section/page number:
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection